W W H A T W H E R E W H Y H O W Join U s In Austin is an a w a ren es s c a m pa ign a n d w eb- ba s ed hu b that raises awareness about Austin and encourages new neighbors ith rit h or d h i it to oi the o it oi s is res o se to fore os re th t see s ost effe ti e o ter ri i new residents into Austin. C A M P A I G he oi s sti i will help raise awareness about sti thro ho t hi o oth to eo e oo i to d ti the seed i the i ds of others ho i ht o sider sti i the f t re he i o d i de h i i s ei h orhoods d ertise e ts o the tr i ti ers re st ed ost rds o i e s o tr ri i the ess es of oi s sti to elsewhere in the city. sti is f i o it for reside ts ho re i te ide or hes i r t rde s tr sit ess d fford e ho si he fore os re risis h s eft e t or e d ered ho es s ttered ross o s iti for the r et of ote ti ers ho want to j oin a neighborhood. Filling these properties can help st i i e o s fortif ro ert values and inspire pride in a historic o it Our goal is to attract and secure ro ri te e sti reside ts using a tight budget and an easily i t i e i d website. Join U s In Austin will inspire these potential neighbors to j oin the o it ot s r it he re tough but ready to settle down. Join U s will portray an honest taste of sti oth the h e es d opportunities. E B S I TE ti ed sti ers d si s o er hi o o s here s sti he e site ro ides histori o te t e s d introduction to the neighbors. e t the e e ts e d r d of desti tio s ith ide s o t h t to see d do i di i to rs re ted fro the stories of reside ts i oi s sti ides o r o e e t for ee e d to tr o t the ei h orhood or e r o t r h si ho e short s e or fore os re d et ti s fro sti reside ts Additional Features - Find and connect with diverse reside ts thro h ro es of neighbors. - An introduction to living in sti i di t es of ho es re s h e es d ssets es it e s to e ore estio s d ti s fro neighbors at every step along the way provides detailed i for tio str i ht fro the source.
I M P L E M E TA TI O P L A Join Us In Austin was created to be implemented on a tight budget, with manageable maintenance. o te t de e o e t o d e o d ted o teers i di the desi te his i des i ter ie i ei h ors re ti ho e i i for tio es and synthesizing personas. e site de e o e t i e si t eo s r eti o d rst fo s o o d et ite s i e sti ers d h i ter ddi tr i ds d o i e s o st d f ded ro df di i C ontent would be updated annually through interviews with Austin residents conducted by volunteers. ews and events o te t o d e stre ed fro e isti so r es e o th e o d ts i ter ie s ith Austin neighbors to produce o te t i di ti s histor d eet the ei h ors e re i tio ifts o ths Website L aunch o r tio of ho e buying advice with real estate agent and lawyers. re i tio ifts o ths thesis of i ter ie s d riti rod i d editi web content based on Austin neighbors. $ 0 o ths e site de e o e t d testi f ossi e e de e o er will be an Austin resident. fees e r hosti e r ser er s e o ths i i e d se re r eti tfor s ri t teri s d re re for distri tio fees ri t osts o ths L aunch website and r eti i Monitor progress. Annual content update with neighborhood survey and interviews. $ 0 On-going re re for i to r ise o e for sti s o tr f d r ised On-going ot s tot ost for st rt d e r of o er tio o er ti ost ro i te o ths fro st rt to h s i i ti e for ee
R E S E A R C H & D E S I G P R O C E S S e re r tef to the reside ts of sti ho e o ed s i to their ho es rds h r hes d rde s d sh red o e d e ero s their o ed e d ssio for their o it J u n e e i ff Attended Foreclosure re e tio or sho e o d r ese r h tte ded id r eighborhood Y ard Sale o r of ei h orhood J u l y Attended services at St Martins Phone interview with neighbors tor te i ith neighbor and property investor Interview with neighbor and activist i histori distri t d i e ities Porch conversations with neighbors Attended Austin Green e rde to r e sessio C asual conversations In-depth interviews Secondary research S ec on d a ry R es ea rc h hro h o r se o d r rese r h e e ored ro r s to ddress fore os re d ei h orhood stabilization in C hicago and around the o tr e so oo ed t res o ses to fore os re i di rtisti d political. We noticed that proj ects redo i te fo sed o those ho ere fore osed o ith itt e fo s o the ei h orhood eft ehi d e so oo ed t ei h orhood sh ri o or ti e e o o ies d e s to i d o ities i di so i edi A u s t in V is it s r isits to sti foot tr sit d r o ed s to e ore the s e d h r ter of the ei h orhood e held casual conversations with residents o or hes street or ers t rd s es d t h r h e ere str the re ti e de sit of sti the distri tio of e t ho es o o s d the o e ess of ei h ors e to red the o it o o r o ith ei h ors d e e o the sti ree e rde o r he ei h ors e et h d fe thi s i o o desire to do their o h rd or se se of h or d o e of their ei h orhood e too ote of the i fr str t re ssets i di the de sit of ho es ess to tr sit d historic character. A u s t in eighbor in t erv iew s e e h d e to i erse i the ds e of sti e o d ted i depth interviews with neighbors we had et o isits or thro h er o hese o ers tio s ed to ore e e ts d ore o ers tio s e he rd o t the i t th t fore os re h d o ei h ori ho eo ers ro ert es their ride i their o it d the i est e ts the de i di r h si short s e ho es to help stabilize their neighborhood. We also toured the neighborhood with reside ts i i s e r ie o the h e es of h i t ho es o o
U R E S E A R C H & D E S I G P R O C E S S A u gu s t e r i stor i d synthesis session S y s t em s hol d in g ba c k progres s hro ho t the ei h orhood e s ho the rre t s ste s ere st i o ort ities for e ers to o e i d st i i e t ris ho es o e ities of i i s e tio d de o itio th rted ote ti e neighbors. Interview with potential si e f i ho e er Interview with potential ti it er C onversations with re e t ho e ers I n s ight s t o bu il d on s e of e i si hts fro rese r h e d ered ho e h s o i ed i t o other ise st e o - Austin residents are persistent and t dee roots the re ot oi to off to orro er e tio s of sti fro the o tside do t re e t d i ife esti tio of sh ri tfor s alternative currencies and lending options S ept em ber ser testing with Austin neighbors P ot en t ia l proj ec t d irec t ion s hese i si hts ed s to fo r differe t ro e t dire tio s to o sider - Help me sell my home (before it s too late) for Austin residents. - Make Austin an option for potential homebuyers - Run naked through my living room to help Austin neighbors realize their challenges and opportunities. - Make it possible for me to invest my money in Austin and help stabilize my own neighborhood. C onversations with residents on desired characteristics of ei h or oals and final dire tion sed o ser testi feed fro sti ei h ors reside ts d ote ti ho e ers e rs ed ro h th t fo sed o r isi re ess o t sti d de it e sier for e reside ts to r h se ho es i sti ith fo s o i di o it o rre t and potential neighbors. C oncept generation o e t re e e t Visual and service design Pricing and storyboarding Welcome Explore Visit Join o t How do I buy? Repairs Whether you want to upgrade the carpet or you need to rebuild a wall, a home purchase is going to take some work. On this page, d ore i for tio o t sti o tr tors d ti s fro residents on how to do your home repair. Estimating Repair and C onstruction C osts In addition to an inspection, you may also want to walk through a home you are considering purchasing with a trusted contractor, who can give o esti te for re irs dd the osts for re irs i to h t o re i i d e to i here for so e sti s estio s. Finding a C ontractor i di o tr tors o tr st d or ith is esse ti for o r ho e re irs s o r ei h ors d frie ds for re o e d tio s d he e sites i e ie s ist or e for re ie s i here for some sti s estio s. oi it o rse f o eti es o st t to do it o rse f These resources will help o d the reso r es o eed to et st rted o doi o r o ho e repairs. While the direction we selected was less d e t ro s th so e of o r i teri o e ts e set o of ro osi so ethi th t o d e do e o ti ht d et re ired i i i te e d o d hi h i ht sti s o tio for eo e i hi o oi s sti is tfor for sti to ro s o it of ei h ors re d to e o e the ri ht e e er o itted i o ed d ersiste t st i e the o histor of Austin residents.
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A V Q A W E B S I TE : W I R E F R A M E S site navigation W el c om e E x pl ore is it J oin A bou t History ews Meet the Map Events Try C ontact Plan your trip Rent eighbors Map Renting Guide C urrent L istings B uy Should I buy? What can I buy? How Do I B uy: Overview How Do I B uy: General How Do I B uy: Short Sale How Do I B uy: Foreclosure ( Each of these steps has one section for general, shortsale, & foreclosure) Decide if you can/ want to buy Find an experienced real estate agent e re o r i Search for properties Research property ( liens, mortgages, value) Foreclosure auction s e tio efore or fter the offer Assemble proposal e offer Waiting ( shortsale only) Secure insurnace C lose Move in Make repairs Invest Map Welcome On behalf of the community of Austin, welcome! We re glad you re here and are excited to share our neighborhood with you. L ocated on C hicago s west side, Austin is home to historic architecture, beautiful parks, stunning churches, and wonderful neighbors. We hope you ll use this site to explore our rich history, meet some current residents, plan to visit us for an upcoming event, and learn more about how to j oin our community. Please make yourself at home! ( I < 3 Austin slide show) Explore Visit Join About Austin History Austin has a long history as a residential community near C hicago s its o de e o e t s rt of i ero to shi d as a C hicago neighborhood. Austin s history can be seen in the buildings, infrastructure and people who live here today. Early Austinville Founded in 1 8 6 5 by Henry Austin, Austinville represented an idyllic neighborhood based in the principles of temperance. It was part of C icero Township and enj oyed a powerful presence on the town council. Historic Midway Park The Historic Midway Park neighborhood, north of L ake between C entral and Austin, contains an impressive collection of Victorian and ueen Anne homes, including several homes by Frederick R. Schock. A Vote for Annexation In 1 8 9 9, frustrated by the power of the Austin representatives in C icero town council, residents of B erwyn and Oak Park voted to annex Austin to the fast-growing city of C hicago. Austin residents sought to maintain Austin ews To learn more about what s happening in Austin today, check out these Austin ews Sources: How do I buy? Select the type of purchase you are considering to see an overview of the necessary steps. Purchasing a home, especially a short sale or foreclosure, might not be a linear process. Each step will take you to a page with more information, including local referrals. For more i for tio o t the differe t s e t es see the comparison. General Short Sale Foreclosure Welcome Explore Visit Join o t How do I buy? Repairs Whether you want to upgrade the carpet or you need to rebuild a wall, a home purchase is going to take some work. On this page, d ore i for tio o t sti o tr tors d ti s fro residents on how to do your home repair. A u s t in W eek l y ew s Weekly paper on Austin news and views Available online or at newsstands on the West Side Decide if you want to and can buy Find an experienced short sale real estate agent Secure your i Search for properties Research other liens, mortgages and the value of the property Estimating Repair and C onstruction C osts In addition to an inspection, you may also want to walk through a home you are considering purchasing with a trusted contractor, who can give o esti te for re irs dd the osts for re irs i to h t o re i i d e to i here for so e sti s estio s. u s t in Ta l k s Written by C olumbia C ollege students and Austin residents, and collected stories from other news sources. Available online or printed stories in the Austin Weekly ews Do an inspection ( before or after the offer Assemble your proposal and e offer Wait, and re e t offer if needed Secure insurance C lose Finding a C ontractor i di o tr tors o tr st d or ith is esse ti for o r ho e re irs s o r ei h ors d frie ds for re o e d tio s d he e sites i e ie s ist or e for re ie s i here for some sti s estio s. The V oic e West Side newspaper serving Austin and surrounding neighborhoods Available at newsstands on the West Side oi it o rse f o eti es o st t to do it o rse f These resources will help o d the reso r es o eed to et st rted o doi o r o ho e e o e ore Visit Join o t o do s e tio What can I buy? etti ho e i s e tio is o r i er t di the ri ht These days, there are plenty of options on what you can buy. Y ou i s e tor d o i h t to e e t e h e e short can buy a home the regular way, from an owner who s moving s e or fore os re de ed re irs or d e re ire s e i out. Or, you can buy a short sale home, where the lenders agree to tte tio sti ei h ors h e ti s for ote ti e reside ts take less than what is owed on the home on the sale. Or, you could d s estio s to e o r i s e tio o s ooth fro st rt to buy a home in foreclosure, where the lender is in the process of ish reclaiming a home to recoup losses. Or, you can buy directly from the bank after a home has been foreclosed on. i di i s e tor i di ood i s e tor e to h o ith re o e d tio, or if o t d o e o i e o sider erti ed i s e tor ho e o s to i s e tio sso i tio oo for re ie s d e s re o r i s e tor eets the i tio s o r e der i ht re ire Regular home for sale ( nondistressed property) S u m m a ry A home for sale by the owner, who may be moving for a variety of reasons. C os t Market value. L en gt h of Around 3 0 days from offer to ose if offer is accepted. C ha l l en ges C hoosing the right home, getting a good deal. d v a n t a ges Seller wants to move, home has been occupied and cared for. During the inspection e s re o tte d the i s e tio the re ort i ht ot e h se se to o if o do t ri er d ote d e re red to fo o ith o tr tor o t hi h ro e s o o o r o d hi h i re ire ore e te si e re ir fter the s e tio Home in short sale The homeowner owes more C ould be below, at or on the home than the current slightly above market market value. The home is value, depending on listed at market value and the conditions. lender agrees to take less than the amount on the loan. This occurs before foreclosure. C ould last for months as lenders wait for etter offers or egotiate with second lenders. Process can take a long time, include complicated paperwork, and is extremely likely to fall through, sold as-is. Potential to get a deal, cooperative homeowner wants to sell. ith o r i s e tio re ort i h d fo o ith o tr tor or e erie ed ei h or d de ide if thi i o r re ort r ises red s o t r h si this ro ert sti te ho h re irs i ost d o r o re sti ithi d et efore i offer! Home in foreclosure The lender has taken control of the home from the homeowner who was unable to On average, foreclosed homes sell for 3 0 % less Depending on auction rules, sale could be immediate. Previous occupants may damage homes through neglect or Potentially deep discount on property, requirements of
H W E B S I TE : W I R E F R A M E S Meet the eighbors ( I < 3 Austin slide show) Austin is home to a diverse group of neighbors. Some have Visit ( slideshow of pictures from events) e o e ore Visit Join About ore ( neighborhood tour video) called Austin home for generations, while others are more recent additions to the community. They all have experiences and stories to share about what makes Austin unique. B ut don t take our word for it- we think it s best you hear it straight from the neighbors! B rowse the introductions below and click C onnect to say hello. This From the annual music festival to the weekly farmers market and neighbor potlucks, there are many great reasons to visit Austin. As C hicago s biggest neighborhood and with nearly 1 5 0 years of histor sti offers ot to e ore e r ore o t o r is a great way to get your questions answered and learn more about our community from current residents. C heck out the Events calendar for more ideas, or create your own adventure with the food, sights, and fun recommended in Plan Y our Trip. Austin is C hicago s biggest neighborhood, so don t try to see it all in one day. See you soon! o it s st d rese t i stories d i t res d the o e t ith rre t reside ts to et the i side s oo The first-time homebuyer he these ei h ors ere ooi for their rst ho e the did t st t ho se the ted to d o it the o d o tri te to. They needed a neighborhood with easy access to downtown and wanted a house big enough to start a family one day. They love the o the oi ed d h e re t d i e o t ho to et i o ed C onnect We won over our new neighbors at the block party with this e s re e ie Events Su M T W Th F S Plan your trip Map History ews Meet the neighbors The family with kids Austin s big yards and convenient parks are great for these neighbors with school-aged children. The parents are active in the local schools and have the inside story on raising a family in Austin. They wanted a community feel for their kids and found it in a neighborhood that s also convenient to work. The investor These Austin residents are realizing the dream of picking their neighbors! They re investing in rental properties, and welcoming new C onnect C onnect Our kids love playing at the nearby waterpark. Sign up early for swim classes! Get discounts on remodeling supplies Try We know moving is a big decision, and you want to know your new neighborhood will be right for you. That s why Austin neighbors are happy to host you for a brief stay so you can get a sneak peek on i i i the o it ro se the ist e o to d the ho se or area you d like to take for a test stay! Simply click Try and Air B nb will complete the reservation. ( testimonial video) Events October Add Event Request Event Download Event Organizing Guide Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Grab lunch at MacArthur s after the farmer s market, but be ready for a wait on Sundays! is t oric 3 bd r- n ort hea s t Y ou ll be amazed that this stately home is such a short commute fro do to o ete restored this ho e offers i details and a large yard. These neighbors have raised their family in Austin for 1 0 years and have great perspective on the nearby school. Try Parking can be tough on festival days- try the sidestreets off of Adams C oz y 1 bd r- c en t ra l L ocated on a great block with young families and older singles, this home sports a large porch and beautiful backyard garden. It s conveniently located near several bus lines. This neighbor has lived in Austin over 2 0 years and has many stories to share! D I Y in progres s - s ou t hw es t Thinking of remodeling but not sure if you re ready to live in a construction zone? These neighbors have lived in Austin for under a year and are hard at work on their dream home. Experience their Try Try Swing by the bakery on Madison to pick up something sure to impress at the potluck- I won t tell Don t miss the Halloween block
TH A K Y O U! e o d i e to th of the e ers of the sti o it ho e o ed us into their neighborhood. e o d so i e to th the o ro e t particularly those designers hose or e e sed o ro e o desi ed i e deir fro he o ro e t B usinessperson Icon designed by e er o e fro he o ro e t er o desi ed oh sert fro he o ro e t House Icon designed by Maurizio edr o i fro he o ro e t etter o desi ed e ree fro he o ro e t if i ss o desi ed he o ro e t Money Icon designed by athan ho so fro he o ro e t e o d ho ht o desi ed i d e i ro fro he o ro e t